UNCAT

It’s the sea, it’s a river, it’s Lisbon water front

     The Tagus river blends with the Ocean just a few km south of Lisbon downtown. At the end of its run, its estuary goes from 2km to 14 m width. Without the Farol du Bugio island, just at the border between river and ocean, it would be difficult to mark the spot where the two water bodies merge.

Sandy river beach of Praia de Paço de Arcos

River view on Farol do Bugio on a windy day

Rusty docks in front of Praça do Comércio

 Cais das Colunas open your path to the river

  Cruise boats and cargoes on the Tagus river

UNCAT

Na Na Huahine

Time to say goodbye to Huahine and French Polynesia. A 20 hour long flight back to Europe is waiting at Papeete Fa’a’a airport. Still some memories from Huahine.

A last jump from the bridge where Huahine islands got split by Hiro, the god of thieves, after he got asleep during sailing.

Another exploration through the ruins at Coral Garden bay and a last gorgeous snorkeling

It was interesting to learn how pearls are cultivated at the pearl farm: not only small bodies are inserted into shell to produce pearls, but also living tissue from other oysters to choose the pearl color!

Mangrove shores of Lake Fa’ una nui and large crabs at the beach deserved more time

What is the secret of the holy blue-eye eels of Faie? Nobody could tell me, not even Aānāvai or her grandmother,  natives of Tahiti,  met during the tour.

Looking forward to test the Paris-Gold-Medal Vanilla out of this tiny plantation in Vairupe Vanille farm

Goodbye Polynesian road chicks, and take care

Last changing colors of the sunset from Faie

This was the last episode of my displacement in time through French Polynesia. And through its vivid and lively, warm waters of Thaiti, Moorea and Huahine.

 Thanks to Jose, Daniel and Sangmook @ile-du-monde for the great adventure. Looking forward to go back again to this planet of waters and wonders. So many island to explore, so many people to meet. Previous episodes:

September 2023-
0. French Polynesia: my displacement in time – from 6.9.23
1. Dots in the ocean – from 8.9.23
2. With wet ankles in Big Moana – from 10.9.23
3. Would you mind bringing the fruit? Be quick! – from 13.9.23
4. Coconut split – from 15.9.23
5. Moana’s ritual – from 17.9.23
6. On the road to the Rock of Displacement – from 20.9.23
7. A dangerous hug – from 22.9.23
8. It’s war! – from 24.9.23
9. Heiva nights: dancing the myth– from 27.9.23
10. Catch the fight – from 29.9.23

– October 2023-
11. Another portion of fruit, please – from 1.10.23
12. Lift it if you can – from 4.10.23
13. Keep Moorea always on your mind – from 6.10.23
14. Allons enfants de la Patrie a Tahiti! – from 8.10.23
15. Return to the Spear Age – from 11.10.23
16. What’s on in Papeete – from 13.10.23
17. Teahupo‘o, surf for the gold medal – from 15.10.23
18. Papeete open air – from 18.10.23
19. Heiva nights: back to the origins – from 20.10.23
20. Va’a: the displacement in time – from 22.10.23
21. Va’a: the competition – from 25.10.23
22. Heiva nights: across time – from 27.10.23
23. Heiva the champions – from 29.10.23

– November 2023 –
24. Don’t wake up Te Fiti – from 1.11.23
25. Sharks ahead! – from 3.11.23
26. Na na Huahine – from 5.11.23
27. (extra) One last shot in the darkness, Huahine – from 8.11.23

UNCAT

Don’t wake up Te Fiti

There are different islands recognized as Te Fiti, the sleeping goddess with the power to create life and all Polynesia islands. There are different traditions at support and against even the presence of Te Fiti in Polynesian mythology. The island mostly accredited as Te Fiti is Huahine: let’s fly (alone) to Huahine, 1 hour  from Tahiti. Huahine is a pristine island, you can drive along its shore for 6 hours (with many photographic stops) and meet virtually no one.

Indeed here is Te fiti, just behind the bay of Tahateao: the head on the right, with mouth,nose and eyes. Breast on the left

In Huahine fishing walls are present at the mouth of Lake Fa’una nui: fishes get trapped in the walled spaces and are easily pulled out in the terminal pools

Several Maera (ritual temples) are also present along lake and Ocean shores: human sacrifices where still in fashion 200 years ago on those very stones. Some say bones are still beneath

Huahine is so pristine that several resorts got bankrupt. The resort in the gorgeous Coral Garden bay lies in ruins, together with its pools

A pearl farm is present in front the village of Faie, on the west coast, all the pearl colors available: get a free tour.

The largest temple is the A’nini Maeva is on the Southern tip of the island.  These large slabs were for cannibalism and human sacrifice rituals.

Savage tribes live in the proximity and like to scare lonely tourists like me with loud roaring from the jungle across the street. They totally hit me: I run away in panic!

No savages on the beautiful beach, nobody on the beach in front of Motu Araara: low season or dangerous place? I did not explore the most probable answer

A safer sunset back in Fare, at the yacht club for dinner, and I will not be the dinner of anyone today…

Each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the following episodes will be published and links will be activated at 11AM CEST of the scheduled date:

– September 2023-
French Polynesia: My displacement in time – from 6.9.23
1. Dots in the ocean – from 8.9.23
2. With wet ankles in Big Moana – from 10.9.23
3. Would you mind bringing the fruit? Be quick! – from 13.9.23
4. Coconut split – from 15.9.23
5. Moana’s ritual – from 17.9.23
6. On the road to the Rock of Displacement – from 20.9.23
7. A dangerous hug – from 22.9.23
8. It’s war! – from 24.9.23
9. Heiva nights: dancing the myth– from 27.9.23
10. Catch the fight – from 29.9.23

– October 2023- I2023
11. Another portion of fruit, quick! – from 1.10.23
12. Lift it if you can – from 4.10.23
13. Keep Moorea always in your mind – from 6.10.23
14. Allons enfants de la Patrie a Tahiti! – from 8.10.23
15. Return to the Spear Age – from 11.10.23
16. What’s on in Papeete – from 13.10.23
17. Teahupo‘o, surf for the gold medal – from 15.10.23
18. Papeete open air – from 18.10.23
19. Heiva nights: back to the origins – from 20.10.23
20. Va’a: the displacement in time – from 22.10.23
21. Va’a: the competition – from 25.10.23
22. Heiva nights: across time  – from 27.10.23
23. Heiva champions – from 29.10.23

– November 2023 –
24. Don’t wake up Te Fiti – from 1.11.23
25. Sharks ahead! – from 3.11.23
26. Na na Huahine – from 5.11.23
27. (extra) One last shot in the darkness, Huahine – from 8.11.23

 

REPORTAGE, TRAVEL, UNCAT

Moana’s ritual

      We got invited to visit Tahiti sacred sites. Two dozens of students from Hawaii join our reportage group to perform the Ritual of Fire in the central caldera of Tahiti. A 4 hour-long off-road along the river Papenoo is waiting for us.

Before starting the exploration up into the valley, we have to ask the river Papenoo to grant us a safe entrance. Water from Big Moana (Pacific Ocean) is collected and our bodies and minds are cleansed with it.

Our first stop is at the Marae of the Lower Valley, to perform the Ritual of Fire. Marae are prehistoric temples, witnessing human sacrifices up to a few centuries ago. Today only flowers and leaves are placed on the altar.

A Maori Shaman shares the trip with us, she comes from New Zealand. Maori Shamans have great power and their lips are tattooed with blue ink.

We then drive towards the Upper Valley and reach the central caldera of Tahiti, where traditional houses are flanked with bread trees with giant fruits

There, the rock of Displacement, our final goal, is presented to us. This rock allows shamans to displace their mind in space, up to Hawaii, just by touching this  ancient whirlpool sign carved in it. She puts her hand on the whirlpool sign and …

Each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the following episodes will be published and links will be active after 11AM CEST of the scheduled date:

– September 2023-
French Polynesia: My displacement in time – from 6.9.23
1. Dots in the ocean – from 8.9.23
2. With wet ankles in Big Moana – from 10.9.23
3. Would you mind bringing the fruit? Be quick! – from 13.9.23
4. Coconut split – from 15.9.23
5. Moana’s ritual – from 17.9.23
6. On the road to the Rock of Displacement – from 20.9.23
7. A dangerous hug – from 22.9.23
8. It’s war! – from 24.9.23
9. Heiva nights: dancing the myth– from 27.9.23
10. Catch the fight – from 29.9.23

– October 2023- I2023
11. Another portion of fruit, quick! – from 1.10.23
12. Lift it if you can – from 4.10.23
13. Keep Moorea always in your mind – from 6.10.23
14. Allons enfants de la Patrie a Tahiti! – from 8.10.23
15. Return to the Spear Age – from 11.10.23
16. What’s on in Papeete – from 13.10.23
17. Teahupo‘o, surf for the gold medal – from 15.10.23
18. Papeete open air – from 18.10.23
19. Heiva nights: back to the origins – from 20.10.23
20. Va’a: the displacement in time – from 22.10.23
21. Va’a: the competition – from 25.10.23
22. Heiva nights: across time  – from 27.10.23
23. Heiva champions – from 29.10.23

– November 2023 –
24. Don’t wake up Te Fiti – from 1.11.23
25. Sharks ahead! – from 3.11.23
26. Na na Huahine – from 5.11.23
27. (extra) One last shot in the darkness, Huahine – from 8.11.23

 

UNCAT

Passages

Real and fictive passages across pictures and locations

Road houses from Tarifa to Sevilla

The beach in front of Castillo de Santa Catalina

Primary colors of Andalusia

The old town door to Tarifa

Tarifa downtown

 

 

Next planned episodes / already published ones

1.Western of Hercules’ pillars (4.6.2023, published)

2.Africa on sight! (7.6.2023, published)

3.Where fields and seas are mown by same winds (9.6.2023, published)

4.I see white (11.06.2023, published)

5.Landscape singularities (14.06.2023, published)

6.Andalusians (16.06.2023, published)

7.Viva la vida rural! (18.06.2023, published)

8.Verticalizations (21.06.2023, published)

9.Horizontalizations (23.06.2023, published)

10.Andalusian architectures (25.06.2023, published)

11.Vertical shores (28.06.2023, published)

12.There is sand and sand (30.06.2023, published)

13.Rural geometry (02.07.2023,published)

14.Life on-shores (05.07.2023, published)

15.The right spot (07.07.203, published)

16.Passages (09.07.2023, published)

17.This is Andalusia (12.07.2023)

 

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